Face it, alcoholic spirits demand a certain ritual. Gin poured from an icy shaker, over and olive, into a true cocktail glass sparkles with urbanity. It murmurs “Martini.” In a cardboard cup it simply sloshes. A good bar will stock glassware of all types to answer the many callings of its customers. There are some basic glasses that all bars should have on hand.

Wine glasses are a stemmed glass, which hold 10 to 14 ounces. These glasses should have a stem that is long enough so that the patron’s hand doesn’t touch the bowl (the body of the glass where the liquid sits), as this affects the temperature of the wine.

Champagne flutes are similar to wine glasses except they have a long, narrow bowl.  The narrow flute helps keep the overall surface area low and keeps the bubbles from dissipating.

Highball glasses are a sturdy, straight-sided glass that holds at least eight to ten ounces. The standard glass used in the industry. A highball glass is simplicity itself: ice plus liquor plus mixer. This glass is perfect for serving any straightforward drink like whiskey and soda or a Screwdriver. The bartender can also use this as a glass for beer drinkers.

For purists who like their whiskey or vodka straight on the rocks, Old-Fashioned glasses are for them. These eight to ten ounce, straight-sided, stemless glass are the best These also come in double old-fashioneds which are 14 to 16 ounce tumblers that are bigger than highball glasses and can hold any tall cooler like a Collins.

Cocktail glasses are also more commonly known as martini glasses. Their shape with a shallow wide bowl and a long stem is not only looks high class; its purpose is to keep hot hands away from the chilled alcohol. These are perfect glasses for the most jazzy, grown-up drinks like the Martini, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan or Rob Roy.

The most well known bar glass is the shot glass. These range from one ounce through as much as four ounces. The one ounce glass can be used as a drinking glass for having a shot of liquor neat or can be used as a measuring glass for mixing other drinks.

Beer glasses come in a wide-ranging variety from basic old-fashioned type glasses, mugs and steins, pilsners, stout, and tumblers. The one thing these all have in common is their wide tops. This lets the aroma of the beer reach the drinker enhancing the experience.

All bar glasses should be washed with care as to not chip or crack the glass. Some bar glasses come in plastic, but while economical, they do not enhance the taste, aroma, or atmoshpere of the drink.